The Lilium Flying Car

An electric aircraft that takes off vertically and has a range of 300 Km (186 miles)[1]. It is an appealing idea. Lilium just received $90 million in investments to further its development.

I wonder how much difference such technology would make in the real world, though. A city with millions of motorists is hardly going to be affected by a few hundred, or even a few thousand, of these aircraft. For the immediate future, it will probably serve a niche role as a sexy, convenient alternative to ground transport for celebrities and executives.

There may also be a significant role for air cars in medical emergencies. But for day to day commuting, autonomous taxis, and recreational use... we're probably looking at a system that is 20-30 years away.

1. https://www.wired.com/2017/04/lilium-jet-first-flight-test-f...